Builder motion for spinning and twister frames



' Sept. 5, 1944. M. COTCHETT 0 BUILDER MOTION FOR SPINNING AND TWISTER FRAMES Fil'ed Aug. 28, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 5, 1944. M. COTCHETT BUILDER MOTION FOR SPINNING AND TWISTER FRAMES Filed Aug. 28, 1941' 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 5, 1944. 2,357,580

BUILDER .MOTION FOR SPINNING AND TWISTER FRAMES 4 M. COTCHETT Filed Aug. 28, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 5. 1944. 'L. M. COTCHETT BUILDER MOTION FOR SPINNING'AND TWISTER FRAMES 7 SheetS -Sheet 4 Sept. 5, 1944. M. COTCHETT BUILDER MOTION FOR SPINNING AND TWISTER FRAMES 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 28, 1941 Sept. 5, 1944. 1.. M. COTCHETT I BUILDER MOTION FOR SPINNING AND 'IWISTER FRAMES Filed Aug. 28, 1941 'TSheets-Sheet a Sept. 5, 1944. L. M. COTCHETT BUILDER MOTION FOR SPINNING AND TWISTER FRAMES 7.Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 28, 1941 mwm "III "nu /l Patented Sept. '5', 1944 BUILDER MOTION FOR SPINNING AND TWISTER FRAMES Louis M. Cotchett, Hingham, Mass., assignor to Saco-Lowell Shops, Boston, Mass.,' a corporation of Maine vApplication August 28, 1941, Serial No. 408,638 I reliable and will be substantially trouble-free over a long period of service.

21 Claims.

This invention relates to builder motions of the' character used in spinning and twister frames. For convenience, such frames will be hereinafter referredto collectively as spinning frames."

Builder motions of the type which have been used almost universally in commercial spinning frames for a long period of years have derived their motion from a cam acting on a roll mounted on abuilder arm, this arm carrying a slidable gear segment designed to be advanced,

- step by step, as the winding operation progresses to vary the leverage of the arm, and, 'consequently, the length of traverse of the ring rail.

'Customarily, this motion is transmitted through a series of lever arms and cross shafts to the lower ends of the lifter rods which support "the ring rail. The reciprocating movements of the ring rail produced by the 'builder motion are designed to be so related to the rate of delivery of yarn to the bobbins that yarn packages of the desired contour will be produced automati.

cally by the machine. Usually the contour desired is a generally cylindrical form, tapered at one or both ends. The manner in which the yarn body is built up, however, depends'upon the requirements of different winds, such as filling winds, warp winds, and others. 0

While these builder mechanisms work well in the great majority of cases, they necessarily are provided with a multiplicity of adjustments designed to accommodate those variations customarily encountered in practice. In making these adjustments, however, especially when they are required to deal with unusual conditions, an extraordinary amount of time, labor and skill is required to bring about that inter-relationship of the parts necessary to make the machine nated, or at least greatly minimized. Stated more specifically, it is an object of the invention vto'simplify the motions involved in producing the desired movements of the ring rail, to elimi nate many of the adjustments required by the common forms of builder mechanisms, to facilitate those adjustments necessary to shift from one type of wind to another, and to devise a mechanism of this character'which will be highly The nature of the invention will bereadily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts in vertical section, showing portions of a builder motion embodying this invention applied to a spinning frame;

. Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view approxi-' mately on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view approximately on the line 33, Fig. 1; Y

' 4 is a vertical, sectional view, approximately on the line 4-8, Fig. 2, showing parts at opposite ends of a cross shaft, certain of the intermediate parts being omitted;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the motion generating mechanism;

Figs. 6, 'Z and 8 are views, somewhat diagrammatic in character, illustrating different positions of the butterfly toggle mechanism which assists in shifting the clutch; v

Fig. 9 is a vertical, sectional view of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 5 with other parts shown in elevation;

Figs. 10 and 11 are-sectional views approximately on the lines lfl-l ll and H-H,:respectively, of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is an angular view of the control shafts and the pick mechanism for driving them;

Figs. 13 and 14 are front elevations of the pick mechanism showing certain of the operating parts in different positions;

Figs. 15 and 16 are diagrammatic views of different winds and illustrates typical positions of the indicator or control fingers required in building them;

Fig. '17 is a fragmentary view showing the preferred method of locking the end of the steel band to a drum or disk; and

Fig. 18 is a similar view showing a bobbin pattern in cooperative relationship to the control fingers.

. Preliminary to a detailed description of the mechanism shown in the drawings, it may be pointed out that the present invention utilizes a screw-threaded shaft as-the'primary driving element of the builder motion, instead ofthe customary cam, and it meshes with and drives a secondary or driven member. As shown, the prime mover of this mechanism is a screwha automatically adjusting those points as required in connection with the building of yarn packages.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 9, the screw which of different types forms the prime mover of the builder motion is shown at 2 and the nut at 3. The left-hand end of the screw shaft 2 is connected by a pin 4 with a bushing 5 on which is mounted a clutch member 6, this member being compelled by the pin 1 to revolve with the bushing but also being axially slidable on the bushing. As shown in Fig. 5, the opposite ends of the clutch member are toothed toengage complemental teeth formed in the end faces of gears 8 and 9, both revolving on the bushing 5, and these two gears are driven in opposite directions by any convenient source of power; Consequently, by shifting the central clutch member 6 into engagement with one or the other of these gears, the screw 2 may be revolved in either direction desired. Such rotation produces an axial movement of the nut 3 and the motion of this member is transmitted through a rod ill. and a control block l2 pinned to it, to a metal strap i3 which forms the first element of a series of connections for transmitting motion of the nut to the ring rail. In this connection it may be pointed out that the reason for the rod l0 and block i2 is to avoid interference with the driving cylinder C, Fig. 3,, for the spindles. If it were not for this necessity the screw 2 w uld be continued and the nut 3 would take the p ace of the block i2. Thus the latter may be considered the equivalent of the former since the two are rigidly conassmao 12, it will move the shaft l3 endwise in the same direction, and upon engagement with the finger I5, as it moves toward the right, it will move the upper screw II in the latter direction. These twoshafts pass through a block 22, and they are proyided with shoulders and collars so arranged that they carry this block with them in any longitudinal movement imparted to either of them by the movement of the control block l2, as just described. As above indicated, such movements are utilized to shift the direction of rotation of the screw 2.

Referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the pin 1 passes through a hole provided to receive it in a shaft 24, coaxial with the lead screw 2, so that it is driven in unison with the clutch member 6. Tbisshaft is slidable axially in the bushing 5, carrying the pin 1 with it, and it is utilized to shift the clutch member 6 from either of its operative positions to ,the other. To this end its outer end portion is grooved to receive two blocks 25 which are swiveled in the block 26 by means of pivot pins 2'|--2'|. Mounted at right angles to the shaft 24 is a. rock shaft 28, supported in a stationary bracket 30, and this shaft carries an eccentric 3| at one end thereof, preferably supported in needle bearings in a socket formed in the block 26. At its outer end an arm 32, Figs. 5 to 8, is secured to the rock shaft. It will be seen that if this arm is swung forward and backward, thus rocking the shaft 28 and the eccentric 3|, the latter will move the block 26 toward the right or left, Fig. 9, depending upon the direction of such swinging movement, and that this movement of the block will be transmitted through the parts 21 and 25 to the shaft 24, the pin 1 and clutch member 6, thus shifting the clutch from one of its operative positions to the other.

It is in'iportant that this clutch shifting movement take place quickly and positively, and that any possibility of the clutch being stopped in an intermediate position be obviated. Moreover,

nected together and share the same movements. since this mechanism is required to p r n- Reversal of the clutch member 3, and therefore of the screw 2, is initiated by the movement of the nut and the control block l2. For this purpose two controlstops or fingers I and I5,

dreds of times in the course of a day's run, and a single failure may have relatively serious consequences, it is important that the mechanism by which such shifting movements are produced Figs. 2 and 1 2, are operatively engaged with the W shall be extraordinarily reliable. Accordingly,

lower and upperscrew-threaded control shafts i3 and II, respectively, and they are both guided on a rod, l8. As best shown in Fig. 3, the lower sides of these two control fingers are cut away, their threaded engagement with the respective controLshafts being confined to the upper sides of theseshafts, so that either can lie/swung out i of engagement with its respective shaft, when desired, and slid along the guide rod 1 3 to change its setting on the shaft. For this purpose the outer end of each stop is provided with a thumb pie'ce a, as best shown in Fig. 12.

It will be observed that the control block I2 is positioned between the stops, and since it is, secured'to the nut 3 for longitudinal movement therewith, it will engage one or the other of these stops or fingers. at points in the travel of 'the nut which depend upon the positional relationship of thecontrol block and the fingers. The, control screws ltand l 'l are supported for limited axial sliding movement in bearing plates 20 and 2|, both rigidly secured to the frame, so that when the controlblock engages the finger l4 during its movement toward the left, Fig. 1 and 16 one 4?; the features of the present invention is a novel load-and-fire" mechanism which takes the form of a butterfly toggle.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6'and 11, it will be observedthat this mechanism comprises a lever 33 iulcrumed at 34 on the frame piece 30. A link 35 connects this lever with the block 22 previously referred to. Pivoted to the upperend of this lever at 36 is a head 31, Fig. 11, in which the upper end of a rod 38 is rigidly fixed, this rod depending downwardly and having a block 40 siidably mounted thereon. A pin 4i pivotally connects the lower end of the arm 32 with this block, and a spring 42 is interposed between the block and a nut 33 threaded onto the lower end of the rod 38. This toggle mechanism, therefore, comprises two toggle links with their ends overlapped-and connected by.a third or ino termediate spring link- Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6 and that the block 22 has just begun to move toward the left in order to effect a reversal of the direction of rotation of the screw 2, this movement is transmitted through the link as to the lever is, thus swinging its upper end in a counter-clockwise direction. As the pivot point 36 moves toward the left it carries the upper end of the rod 38 with, it, the block 40 and the rod swinging in unison about the pivot 4| asa center. During this action the rod 88 is pulled upwardly through the block 40, thus.

compressing the spring 42, storing energy in it, and consequently setting up a tension bet can the pivots 36 and 4|, Fig.7. This force obvi usly tends to swing the arm 32 in a clockwise 'direction and such force will'be equal to the expansive eifort of the'spring multiplied by themoment arm from the center of the pivot 28 to a common center line connecting the pivots. 36 and 4|. The continued counter-clockwise movement of the lever 33 obviously increases this momentarm until-it reaches a value suilicient to snap the arm 32 overinto the position shown in Figs. 5 and 8. .Thereupon the spring 40 acts to line up the pivots 36 and 4| with a pivot 34.

It will thus be observed that the arm 32 'is carried over into its new position by the action of the spring 42 during a continuation of a reversing movement initiated by a force transmitted to the lever 33, and that the energy of the spring acts in the same direction as the movement of the lever and only after the lever has passed its dead center position. All the parts of this butterfly toggle mechanism are in equilibrium initially, tending to maintain the existing clutch engagement, and this condition continues up to the instant that the energy of the spring 42 is released and the clutch is shifted,

whereupon a new equilibrium is established serv ing to retain the clutch inits new position.

When the control screw I! moves the block 22 toward the right a reversal of the operations Just described takes place, andthe toggle mechanism snaps the clutch member 8 back into its initial position.

These parts of the builder motion mechanism so far described serve to produce a traversing movement of the nut 3, to reverse that movement at points determined by the adjustment of the stop fingers I4 and 45, to produce such reversal substantially instantaneously, and to afford convenient means for adjusting independently the, points at which such reversal Will'take place. These are allthe building operations required in making a spool wind, but 'in producing other types of winds, such as a filling wind or a warp wind, it is necessary to feed one, or both, of the points of reversal lengthwise of the line of traverse. The builder motion shown includes mechanism for producing such feeding or adjusting movements automatically. This mechanism effectsthe results desired through rotation of the control screws l6 and I1. By. therelativ direcsince reversal is accomplished by the threaded engagement of the stop fingers or nuts with the screws and the pressures so created tend to bind the screws against a pick rotation at this time with a consequent high resistance to movement by the pick mechanism. The construction shown in the drawings therefore is so organized that picking occurs only during a brief interval immediately after each reversal.

Referring to Figs. 5, 9 and 10, it will be see that two ratchet wheels 44 and 45, each having four teeth only, are mounted on a sleeve 48 and keyed thereto, this sleeve encircling a reduced portion of the lower control screw l6. Mounted loosely on this sleeve to rock thereon, and immediately beside the wheel 45, is an arm 41 carrying two pawls 48 and 49, respectively. Both pawls rock on a common pivot 58 and they are arranged to engage the respective ratchet wheels 44 and 45. Pivoted to the arm 41 is a pitman 5| actuated by an eccentric 52 which is keyed to the sleev 5 above referred to. Since the cocentric is driven in unison with the lead screw 2, the rocker arm 41 is oscillated so long as .the

screw is' being revolved. To control the pawls a pin 53, Figs. 5 and 10, projects laterally from the block 22 under the pawl 49. When in the position shown in Fig. 10, it lifts this pawl out of tion and speed of this rotation they may be made to feed the stop fingers l4 and i5 in the same or opposite directions, and atthe same or different speeds.

Such rotation of the control screws is produced by means. of a pick motion which is universal in the sense that by adJustmentof shields to hold thepa'wls out of engagement with the ratchets,.'

either screw may be picked or rotated in either direction and at a predetermined speed in accordance with the number of teeth which the pawl is permitted to pick up'in its stroke, the

- stroke being constant. It is desirable-however,

that such rotative movement of the control screws be prevented at the moment of reversal contact with its ratchet wheel and thus holds it in an inoperative position. At this time, therefore, the pawl 48 is allowed to engage its ratchet wheel 44 and it acts to rotate the wheel four teeth and thereafter runs idly since it then rides on the smooth edge of the wheel. Upon the next reversal of the screw 2, the block 22 is moved into such a position as )0 allow the pawl 49 to -drop into a cut-out or groove in the upper side of the pin. The movement so permitted is sufllclen't to let the pawl engage its' ratchet wheel 45,

whereupon it picks that wheel four teeth in the reverse direction to that produced by the pawl 48, but its action also is then stopped because it has reached the end of the toothed portion of the wheel. When the pawl 49 is brought into action, a pin 54, Fig. 10, projecting laterally from it, engages the tail portion of the pawl 48, and because 49 is much heavier than 48, it lifts the latter out of engagement with its ratchet Wheel 44. Thus upon any reversal of the screw 2 one pawl or the other is brought into operation through the longitudinal movement of the pin 53, and the picking operation 01 one pawl restoret the ratchet wheel of the other to a position. suitable for the next operation of the latter.

The step-by-step rotative movements in opposite directions imparted to the sleeve 46 in the manner just described serve to oscillate'an arm 55, Figs. 5, 9, 12 and 13, about the axis of the sleeve, and this arm carries two pawls55 and 51- adapted to engage, respectively, the] oppositely toothed ratchet wheels 58 and 59, bothof which are keyed to the end portion of the shaft I6, as shown in Fig. 5. A shield 68 carried by a hub member 8| which is centered on the end of the shaft l6 but is mounted forrotary adjustment in' the plat 62, has a circumferential extent somewhat greater than the distance between the pawls, and the pawls-carry pins p-p, Figs. 9 and 13, lying sufllciently within the path of ad- Justment of theedge of the shield so that this shield maybe utilized to holdeither or both pawls in their inoperative positions. or; to allow either of them to operate. Any rotative movement so imparted to the ratchet wheels, however, is trans-- cooperate with an index mark e, Fig. 13, provided on the outer face of the plate 62.

Connections similar to those just described are provided to operate the upper control screw II. For this purpose the sleeve 46 is connected by gears 64 and 85 to another sleeve 66, similar to the sleeve 46 and similarly mounted, and the latter sleeve supports an arm 61 carrying pawls 85 and I0, Fig. 13. These pawls cooperate with oppositely toothed ratchet wheels H and I2 and with a shield 13, the ratchet wheels being keyed to an extension of the control screw l'l, all substantially as described in connection with the lower control screw it. Anadjusting knob 14 lifting movement and the control effort of the screw and nut assembly to the next cross shaft, and these connections are repeated through suc' cessive sections to the end of the frame.

A convenient method of anchoring the end of the steel band 18 to the drum TI is shown in Fig. 17. Here a cylindrical slug or plug 88, pierced with a hexagonal hole, is set into a socket in the drum with its axis parallel to that of the drum, and it is releasably locked there by a pin 81 grooved at one side on such a radius as to fit snugly against the surface of the plug. A set screw 88 is threaded into the drum and serves, when tightened, to force the pin inwardly and thereby to lock the plug against rotation. However, by releasing the set screw and rotating the plug, the effective length of the steel rband may be changed and such an adjustment is useful in making the initial set-up. The end portion of the band being wrapped around the plug and the extreme tip inserted in a radial slot formed in it', anchors the band securely to the corresponds to that shown at 63. Usually the upper ratchet wheels control the adjustments at the lower end of the bobbin and the lower wheels those at the upper end, although this arrangement can be reversed if desired.

The builder unit above described can be made to produce the various reciprocating movements of the nut 3 required for the purpose of. buildin practically any form of yarn package. Transmission of these movements to the lifter motion is effected through the flexible steel band l3, one end of which is anchored to the control block I2.

From this pointit extends'forward approximately horizontally and is given a. partial wrap around and is secured to a drum l5, Fig. 2, fast on the cross shaft 18. Keyed on the opposite ends of this shaft are two drums 11- 11, similar to the drum I5, and a steel band 18, Fig. 1, having a partial .wrap around the drum 11 there shown, extends downwardly along the side of the lifter rod 80, its lower nd being wrapped around the lower end of the rod and riveted thereto, in the manner best shown in Fig. 4. At its upper portion this lifter rod takes the form of a tube and it encircles and slides on a guide rod 8i which usually is anchored to the frame both above and below the path of traverse of the'tubular section of the rod. This and a similar rod at the opposite end of the frame section shown in Fig. 1,

cross shaft comprises a second band 90 having apartial wrap around one of the drums Ti, an

chored thereto, and also partially wrapped around and anchored to a drum W at the same side of the frame as the drum 71. This connection therefore revolves the cross shaft 16' in unison with the cross shaft 16 of the first section, and since the connections between both cross shafts and their respective lifter rods are the same, they are operated in unison.

If it is desired to traverse the thread board 9i,

, Figs. 1 and-3, this may conveniently be done by support the ring rail 82, the latter being mounted in clamps 83-83 which connect it with the upper ends of the lifter rods. Another pair of lifter rods at the opposite-side of the frame, similar to the pair just described, support a second ring rail in the same manner.

It will be evident that the weight of the ring rail 82 and the parts carried thereby is transmitted through the connections just described to the control nut l2, thus placing all of the flexible steel bands I: and 18 under tension. The

weight of these parts is utilized to produce the lowering movement of the rail, such movement, however, being under the control of the screw and nut prime mover, and the upward movement of the rails is produced by this screw and nut assembly.

In each succeeding section a cross shaft I. is provided and it has lifterelements associated with it like those shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A steel band 84, Fig. 2, having apartial wrap around a second drum 8!, beside the drum I6 and also secured to the cross shaft", transmits both the 'll mounting the guide rods SI for vertical'movement, supporting the lower end of each guide rod on a pin, such as that shown at 92 in Figs. 1 and 4, this pin projecting laterally from a disk 93 mounted below and somewhat behind the disk 11'. A band 94, Figs. 1 and 4, one end of which is anchored in the disk 93 and the opposite end in a small disk 95 on the cross shaft 98, Fig. 4,

transmits motion from the latter disk to the former, and the latter derives its motion from a pin 96 set into any one of a series of holes in the disk 11-. As the disk TI revolves during the rise of the ring rail, the pin picks up an arm 91 projecting radially-fromthe disk 95, and rigid therewith, and compels the latter to rotate with the main disk.v I'his, in turn, compels the disk 93 to revolve at a much slower speed than the disk ll, but in such a direction as to make the pin 92 lift the rod 8| and the thread board 91. Another band 89 runs from the disk 93 to a similar disk I00 at the opposite end of the section and this disk is mounted in the same relationship to the rod in at this end or-uie section as is the disk 93 at the opposite end. Consequently, both ends of the thread board are. raised simultaneously and at the same speed.

As the thread board descends byv its own weight,-but under control of the builder screw, a reverse rotation of the disks 93 and I 00 occurs. and this movement is stopped after the thread board has dropped the desired distance, usually only an inch or two, by the engagement of the arm 91 with a stop pin iili secured in a part contributes to this result.

rigid with the bracket I02. The thread board rests in its lowered position while the ring rail completes its downward movement and until it is again raised far enough to cause the pin 96 to engage the arm 91 again and to pick it up in rotation. An extension I03 of the band 99 runs into the next section to operate a disk like the disk Hill in performing the same functions and these connections are repeated through'succeedare like those above describedbetween the corresponding parts at the opposite side of the frame. The fact that the initial builder movement generated by the mechanism described is in a straight line, and that the transmitting mechanism produces a straight line movement of the ring rail having the same linear characteristic as that originally generated, is an important advantage in facilitating the adjustments required in shifting from one type of wind to another. The very simple nature of theseadiustrnents also The method usually followed is to secure one of the bobbins on which the yarn is to be wound on the side wall of the frame at some readily accessible point immediately above the path of movement of the control fingers or nuts l4 and I5. Such a bobbin, or a replica of it, usually split lengthwise, is shown at P in Fig. 18 secured by two screws immediately above and parallel with the path of adjustment oi the pointers b-b on the ends of said fingers,

these fingers projecting through a slot formed in a side plate of the machine casing.

In producing a new wind it is simply necessary to set the fingers b-b opposite the points on the bobbin at which the reversal of the winding op-- eralion should take place, and then to adjust the knobs 63 and 14, Fig. 13, to produce the desired number 01 picks inthe direction required by the package buildlngoperation. Assuming, for example, that a filling-wind is to be produced, as shown in Fig. 15, the right-hand finger will be set initially at the base of the bobbin and the left-hand finger at a distance away from it, corresponding to the length of traverse desired. The building hi this package requires that both these fingers be traversed toward the left at a uniform rate. Consequently, the knobs 63 and 14 are set .in some such positions as those shown in Fig.'-l3. Both knobs are here shown adjusted for an uppick of eight teeth'per pick. Each pick on'either ratchet wheel will, for example, result in producing-an adjusting movement of the fingers bw-b intermediate positions in the production of the package.

In building a warp-wound-bobbin, as shown in ,Fig. 16, the pointers b b are set initially at the opposite ends of the pacirage to be made. In this instance the points of reversal are to be traversed simultaneously toward each other at approximately the same rate. Accordingly, the shields are set in some such positions as those shown in'Fig. 14, the upper knob ll controlling the movement of the right-hand pointerb being set for an up-pick oi, say. seven teeth and the lower knob 83 being set for a down-pick of the same number of teeth; I

Any of the recognized forms of packages can be produced by other adjustments of the pointers- -and of the pick mechanisms, as will be evident to those skilled in this art. The adjustments requiredfor this purpose are, however, extraordinarily simple and can be made very easily, quickly, and with a minimum of eflort. This is a very important practical advantage of the builder motion provided by the invention.

It will also be' evident that the mechanism itself is relatively simple in construction, its various parts are of such a nature that they are not liable to get out of order, they require relatively little attention, .and the mechanism is, accordingly, extremely reliable.

While I have herein shown and described a typical embodiment of my invention, it will be evident that the invention may be embodied in other forms and that various changes in the embodiment-shown may be made while still uti-' lizing the essential features of the invention. For example, it is obvious that the flexible bands above referred to may be replaced bychains or other flexible elements. Also, that the drums l5 and 85 may be combined into a single drum or pulley or, if desired, these two could be combined with the drum II on the ends of the shaft 16 to form a cylinder serving the same purposes as do the separate units. These and various other modifications and variations in design can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention'.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a spinning irame, the combination with a ring rail and litter elements supporting it, of

idcluding a clutch element shiftable into engagement with cooperating clutch members at opposite sides or it, means actuated by the movement or said. nut for initiating such reversal, and a toggle mechanism actuated by the movement of said. nut and including a spring link connecting two overlapped main toggle links for completing said reversal with a snap action.

2. In a spinning frame, the combination of a ring rail, a litter rod' connected" with said rail to impart operative movement thereto, a main screw, mechanism for revolving said screw in opposite directions. around its own axis, a nut .mounted on said screw to be traversed thereby,

means for transmitting motion of said nut to said lifter rod, two rotary control screws, two

.control nuts mounted, respectively, on said cong'agedand moved lengthwise by a part movable with the nut on the main screw, and means arranged to be actuated-by the movement of the control nuts so produced to reverse the direction of rotation of said main screw.

3. In a spinning frame according to preceding I claim 2, in combination with mechanism for screws intermittently,- each of said mechanisms being adjustable to vary the movements imparted to the control screws independently of each other, and inaccordance with'the requirements of different winds.

5. ha spinning frame according to preceding claim 2. in combination with mechanism for rotating said control screws step-by-step as the spinning operation progresses, including pawl and ratchet devices for driving the respective screws and a third pawl and ratchet mechanism for driving the first two, said third pawl and ratchet mechanism being driven from the mechanism which drives said main screw, and the ,flrst mentioned pawl and ratchet mechanisms being adjustable independently of each other to vary the rotative movements imparted to the respective control screws in accordance with the nature of the wind to be produced.

6. In a. spinning frame according to preceding claim 2, in combination with mechanism for driving said control screws, said mechanism being adjustable to feed one or both of said control nuts lengthwise of its respective control screw while the spinning operationprogresses, and automatic means for so controlling the feedine movements of said control nuts that such movements will not occur during the reversal of the direction of rotation of the main screw.

7. Ina spinning frame, the combination with a ring rail and an upright lifter rod therefor, of a drum mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis with its peripheral edge close to the path of travel of said rod, a flexible band having-one end anchored to said drum and its opposite end secured to the lower part of said rod with an intermediate-portion of said band positioned immediately beside said rod, whereby rotation of 3 said drum in one direction lifts the rod, said drinn having a .plug positioned therein near the periphery of, the drum for rotary adjustment about an axis substantially parallel to the drum, the end of said band being secured to said plug and the part thereof adjacent to the end being wrappcdaround the plug, and means for releasably securing the plug in its various positions 8. In a spinning frame, the combination with a said shaft and the operation of said adjusting means whereby different winds may be produced at wi 9. In a spinning frame, the combination with a ring rail and lifter elements supporting it, of a screw-threaded shaft, mechanism for revolving said shaft around its own axis in opposite directions, a device meshing with the screw threads on said shaft to be driven thereby, connections for transmitting motion of said device to said elements, means operable to reverse the direction of motion of said device by said screw threaded shaft, and power driven mechanism for automatically adjusting either or both points of reversal of said device along its path of travel, as desired while the spinning operation continues uninterruptedly, whereby different winds may b produced at will, and connections between said mechanisms for driving one from the other and maintaining a predetermined time relationship between the rotation of said shaft and said adjusting operation.

10. In a spinning frame, the combination with a ring rail and lifter elements supporting it, of a screw-threaded shaft, mechanism forlrevolving said shaft around its own axis in opposite directions, a device meshing with the screw threads on said shaft to be driven tiiereby, connections for transmitting motion of said device to said elements, means operable to reverse the direction of motion of said device by said screw threaded shaft, and power driven mechanism operated in timed relationship to the motion of said device for automatically adjusting the points of reversal of said device along its path of travel, said adjusting mechanism being itself adjustable to move said points of reversal in the same or opposite directions, as desired.

11. In a spinning frame, the combination with a ring rail andlifter elements supporting it, of

, a screw-threaded shaft, mechanism for revolving said shaft around its own axis in opposite directions, a device meshing with the screw threads a motion of said device by said screw threaded ring rail and lifter elements supporting it, of a w screw-threaded shaft, mechanism for revolving said shaft around its own axis in opposite direcon said shaft to be driven thereby, connections for transmitting motion of said device to said elements, means operable to reverse the direction of shaft, and power driven mechanism operated in timed relationship to the-motion of said device for: automatically adjusting the points of reversal of'said device along its path of travel, said adjusting mechanism being itself adjustable to move said points of reversal in the same or opposite directions and at the same or diflerent speeds, as may be necessary for different winds.

12. In a spinning frame, the combination with a ring rail and lifter elements supporting it, of a screw-threaded shaft, mechanism for revolving said shaft around its own axis in opposite directions, a device meshing'with the screw threads on said shaft to be driven thereby, connections for transmitting motion of said device to said elements, means operable to reverse the direction of motion of said device by said screw threaded shaft, .mechanism for automatically adjusting the points of reversal of said device along its path of travel independently of each other, and connections between said mechanisms for driving one from the other and maintaining a definite time relationship between the rotation of said shaft and said adjusting operation.

13. In a spinning frame, the combination with a ring rail and lifter elements supporting it, of a screw-threaded shaft, mechanism for revolving said shaft around its own axis. a device mesh- 2,357,580 ing with the screw threads on said shaft to be driven thereby, connections for transmitting motion of said device to said elements, means'driven by said shaft for reversing its own direction of rotation and, consequently, reversing the direction of movement of said device, said means including a clutch element shii'table into engagement with cooperating oppositely driven clutch members at opposite sides of it, and power driven mechanism for automatically adjusting the points of reversal of said device along its path of'travel, said adjusting mechanism comprising two control screws, two stops driven by said respective screws, said stops being adjustable along said screws independently of the screws, and means for driving said control screws including to be operated by the screw-threaded portion of said shaft for swinging said toggle past its dead a reversible pawl and ratchet mechanism operable automatically to drive the screws through a predetermined angular distance in one direction and then through an equal angular distance in the opposite direction.

14. Ina machine according to preceding claim 13, a construction in which said pawl and ratchet mechanism automatically returns to rest in a predetermined condition after each cycle of its operations, and means arranged to be actuated by said shaft reversing means for initiating the operation of said pawl and ratchet mechanism at substantially the completion of said shaft reversing operation.

15. In a machine according to preceding claim 13, a construction including means for limiting the operation of said pawl and ratchet-mechanism to a brief interval of time immediately after each reversal of rotation of said screwthreaded shaft 16. In a machine according to preceding claim 13, a construction in which two pawl and ratchet mechanisms are connected with said control screws, respectively, todrive them, said reversible pawl and ratchet mechanism being connected with the first two pawl and ratchet mechanisms to drive them in both directions, said reversible pawl and ratchet mechanism being constructed to make a predetermined number of picks in both directions after its operation is once initiated and then to stop, and means controlled by said shaft reversing mechanism forinitiating the operation of said reversible pawl and ratchet mechanism.

17. In a spinning frame, the combination'with center position in opposite directions to initiate said reversing operation, said mechanism serving to hold said'member against movement out of itsv operative position until'the instant of shifting by said snap action.

18. In a spinning frame according to preceding claim 17, a construction in which said toggle mechanism includes two main togglelinks, with portions overlapping each other and adapted'to swing into and out of common alignment, and a spring link pivotally connecting said overlapping portions of said main links.

' 19. In a spinning frame according to precedtwo links being pivoted at points spaced widely j apart and extending toward and overlapping eachother, and a compression spring link pivotally connecting the overlapping ends of said main links.

20. In a spinning frame, the combination with a ring rail and a builder motion connected therewith to reciprocate saidrail, of control fingers mounted closely adjacent to each other in a readily accessible position on said frame for adjustment toward and from each other, and a bobbin pattern associated with said fingers for adjustment of the latter therealong, said builder motion including parts operable automatically to reverse themotion of said ring rail and the points,

of reversal being controlled by the positions of said respective fingers.

21. A spinning frame as defined in preceding claim 8, in' combination with manually adjustable means for predetermining the rate at which said adjusting movement will be produced.

- LOUIS M. COTCHE'I'I. 

